The Del Monte Lodge Renaissance Rochester Hotel & Spa

“Outstanding experience!”

The Del Monte Hotel is outstanding. Set on the banks of the Erie Canal with the Canal path easily accessible just outside the hotel door, the walking, jogging and biking opportunities are superb. The front desk staff are extremely helpful and both check-in and check-out were flawless. The hotel … more

The Del Monte Hotel is outstanding. Set on the banks of the Erie Canal with the Canal path easily accessible just outside the hotel door, the walking, jogging and biking opportunities are superb. The front desk staff are extremely helpful and both check-in and check-out were flawless. The hotel is immaculate and the rooms are extremely comfortable with good lighting, plenty of outlets and great showers . The hotel restaurant, The Erie Grill, is excellent with pleasant, efficient servers and superb food. We ate there for breakfast, dinner and frequented the bar and all were great. The Spa also was terrific. Two suggestions for future guests: 1) the restaurant is on the small side and reservations are recommended for all meals including breakfast; 2) reservations are also highly recommended for the shuttle both to and from the airport and also to the surrounding area. Reservations are best made before arrival to ensure availability (especially for airport pick-up).

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“Gem of a hotel”

If you have never been here, you need to. One of the most spectacular hotels we stay at. Seriously. And we always do JW and Ritz. This hotel has such attention to detail it amazes me. Bonvoy members you are heard here and recognized. From the moment you get to the front desk they are friendly… more

If you have never been here, you need to. One of the most spectacular hotels we stay at. Seriously. And we always do JW and Ritz. This hotel has such attention to detail it amazes me. Bonvoy members you are heard here and recognized. From the moment you get to the front desk they are friendly and acknowledged for your Marriott elite. Just keep in mind that upgrades are very difficult for them as much as they want to do it because of the very few suites they have. But they will ask (they do me) what floor I like, lower or upper. But the rooms are gorgeous. On the last two chilly nights I used the fluffy throw on the bed and that was wonderful. The shower is almost immediate with the hot water and the shower are roomy and have all the amenities you need. The rooms are so roomy and the beds are delicious. Yes delicious..so comfy!! There is a coffee maker and small fridge in each room and I love that. Best part...the rooms are pristine! Clean and sparkling. If I had to complain about anything it would be that the rooms are very dimly lit. I would like a bit more light. But I'll trade that for everything else this little gem has to offer. And did I mention that they are on the canal. Yes!! You can go down for an amazing breakfast and watch see the canal right out the window. Talk about ambiance. This is a must for everyone.

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“Nice Stay in Pittsford”

This hotel is located in the heart of Pittsford, NY. The hotel was very welcoming when we arrived. Everyone was extremely helpful. We were there for a wedding and they handed out bags for the guests from the bride. The rooms were clean and we were provided with everything we needed. We thought th… more

This hotel is located in the heart of Pittsford, NY. The hotel was very welcoming when we arrived. Everyone was extremely helpful. We were there for a wedding and they handed out bags for the guests from the bride. The rooms were clean and we were provided with everything we needed. We thought the lighting was a bit weird and dim in our room. Other rooms might have better lighting. Overall it was a good stay and we would stay again.

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“Lacking amenities and service standard for purported upscale 4-star hotel”

The Renaissance Del Monte Lodge is probably the best chain option in Rochester. The location itself is about 15 minutes by car from downtown Rochester and is in a small village on the banks of the Erie Canal. Renaissance, like other Marriott brands, is a bit lost and confused. However, in concept… more

The Renaissance Del Monte Lodge is probably the best chain option in Rochester. The location itself is about 15 minutes by car from downtown Rochester and is in a small village on the banks of the Erie Canal. Renaissance, like other Marriott brands, is a bit lost and confused. However, in concept, Renaissance is supposed to be an upscale, 4-star hotel that’s more boutique-like than Marriott’s flagship Marriott brand. But, if I’m being honest, the Renaissance Del Monte Lodge is just a Fairfield or Courtyard with a considerably better restaurant, a fancy spa, and better décor. The hotel’s AAA rating confirmed my impression. AAA has given it a 3-diamond rating, which is below what you would expect. The Renaissance Del Monte Lodge should have a four-diamond rating from AAA. Here are some of the issues that I experienced: No pre-arrival email or welcome letter at check-in. There is no doorman or bellman to assist with luggage, etc. The front desk offered no assistance. There appears to be a hotel car, a Cadillac SUV. But no information was given at check-in about its availability, etc. This is why a hotel should do a pre-arrival email or at least provide a welcome letter at check-in. Similarly, there’s a spa, but you wouldn’t know this as a guest because it’s not promoted and you receive no information about it at check-in. This is another reason for a welcome letter or pre-arrival email. Speaking of the spa, there’s no pool. I found it somewhat strange that a full-service hotel with a spa doesn’t have a pool. A half-indoor, half-outdoor pool would be fantastic, especially given the pleasant summer weather. Renaissance properties are supposed to have a “navigator” (what the brand calls a concierge). I didn’t see a concierge desk or any employee other than the front desk clerk. No newspapers. I didn’t even see a Rochester tourism magazine. There is no pantry market. So, if you want a Pepsi and the restaurant is closed, your only option is to leave the hotel and go to the nearby gas station. The in-room amenities are basic. The generic hotel coffeemaker with cheap hotel coffee was provided. In a suite, you would expect maybe an espresso maker. Even in a suite, there wasn’t a stocked mini-bar, wine glasses, or corkscrew. With one exception, Bonvoy recognition was mediocre to poor. I booked a king room. Before my arrival, I confirmed a king room on the highest floor with the hotel. At check-in, I was downgraded to a 2-queen room. After complaining to the front desk and invoking the Marriott compensation guarantee, I was “upgraded” to a suite with no apology for the initial downgrade. I received an unaddressed and unsigned card in my original room that thanked me for staying. There was an F&B amenity consisting of macaroons and Diet Pepsi. While kind, the macaroons are something I don’t eat. I’m a Diet Pepsi addict. I appreciated the Diet Pepsi. My Bonvoy ambassador account has my F&B preferences. Just like downgrading my room, the hotel didn’t try at all. Zero effort. Zero attention to detail. Is it that difficult to provide an in-room F&B amenity based on my preferences? What’s the point of Marriott asking ambassadors for their preferences if they aren’t consulted? I would have rather had extra Diet Pepsi than the macaroons. My original room and the suite I later received were superficially clean. I say superficially because everything looked clean. But when you looked a little closer, you started to see things. Hair on furniture. Multiple stains on furniture, like white stains on upholstery. Dirty floors. Mold or mildew in the shower. Scratched, scuffed, cracked, and otherwise damaged flooring, countertops, furniture, etc. Peeling wallpaper. The one Bonvoy benefit the hotel delivers well is the breakfast benefit. Platinum and higher can order ANYTHING off the menu. The hotel’s restaurant, the Erie Grill, is a legitimate restaurant, and the food, both for breakfast and dinner, is very good to excellent. The wine list, in particular, is spectacular for a hotel restaurant in the suburbs of Rochester. Speaking of the restaurant, the only issue with the restaurant is its size. It is a very small space. Reservations for dinner and Sunday brunch are highly recommended. However, guests wouldn’t know this because there’s no welcome letter or pre-arrival email. I was also surprised by the lack of outdoor seating. The restaurant faces the Erie Canal. There’s a nice pathway out there with lots of foot traffic. Four or five outdoor tables would be a nice addition. All things considered, the Renaissance Del Monte Lodge is trying to be an upscale hotel but comes considerably short of what you expect. Especially given the prices. The night I stayed, the suite I received as an upgrade was almost $700 per night. That’s a lot of money for a suite, given the cleanliness and maintenance issues, the lack of services, and the overall lack of amenities. Unless improvements are made, I think Marriott should change this hotel's brand from Renaissance to Tribute Portfolio.

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